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The Malone University football team travels to North Carolina on Saturday, September 16th for a 1:00 pm matchup with Shaw University in Durham County Memorial Stadium. Both teams enter the contest in search of their first win of the season as the Pioneers (0-1) take on the Bears (0-2) in a non-conference clash.

Media Information
Live Video: boxcast.tv/view/shaw-vs-malone-758675
Live Stats: shawbears.com
Live (Home) Radio: ESPN 990 AM | espn990.com
Twitter: @Malone_Football | @maloneathletics

GameDay Storylines
4th-Quarter Defense Keys Malone's Near Comeback 
After spotting Taylor a 28-7 lead through three quarters in the season opener, the Malone defense was outstanding in the final period, forcing the Trojans into five three-and-outs. The Pioneers nearly overcame the 21-point deficit, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but a pair of late turnovers sealed their fate. Still, the Malone defenders came up big time and time again, holding Taylor to just 22 yards in the fourth quarter. The Pioneer defense will be on a mission to prove what it can do for all four quarters this weekend when it takes on a Shaw outfit that generated just 10 first downs and 156 total yards in a loss last Saturday.
 
Weber and Johnson Earn Weekly Conference Awards
Following a stalwart defensive effort in week one, senior middle linebacker Ryan Weber was named the G-MAC Defensive Player of the Week. Weber posted a career-high 19 tackles along with two forced fumbles. The 19 stops tied a conference record and his 13 solo tackles were the second-most in a game by any player in the country this season. Senior Jordan Johnson earned G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after scoring the league's first punt-return touchdown, a 70-yarder, in the opener. Johnson was also a menace on defense, breaking up a pair of passes, recovering a fumble, and making five tackles.
 
Passing Game Soars
Malone senior quarterback John Iacucci set a career-high with 326 yards passing against Taylor, marking the second time in his career that he has thrown for 300 or more yards. Iacucci also set a career-high with 24 completions and was one shy of a career-high with 39 attempts. It was the first time in his career that he completed better than 60% of his passes. The 326 passing yards were the most by Malone as a team since the 367 yards against Lake Erie in 2013 and the most by a Pioneer since Steve Brohl threw for 409 yards in 2009.
 
Running Game Tripped Up
While the Malone passing attack had its best game in four seasons, the Malone running attack had its worst game ever. Worsened by four sacks resulting in a net loss of 26 yards, the Pioneers finished with -18 yards rushing. Senior tailback Matt Blasiole carried the ball 11 times for just nine yards behind an offensive line that struggled with the interior pressure from a pair of 300 plus-pound Taylor defensive tackles. The offensive line will now have two weeks to make adjustments and prepare for a Shaw squad that starts four defensive lineman under 250 pounds and gave up 12 rushing first downs last weekend.
 
On the Road Again
Malone makes the trip to North Carolina this weekend with the chance to do something it hasn't done since 2013: win on the road. The Pioneers carry an 18-game road losing streak into this Saturday's contest, the second longest in NCAA DII. Something's gotta give Saturday in Durham County, however, where Shaw is just 1-11 in its last 12 home games dating back to 2014. The Bears' lone win during the stretch was an 11-8 victory over Johnson C. Smith last October. Malone's last road victory was a 59-42 triumph over Alderson Broaddus in November of 2013. Despite the lengthy road trip this Saturday, Malone has the benefit of an extra week's rest and the Pioneers are 7-5 all-time in games coming off a bye.
 
Pioneers to Watch
Offense: The Pioneer receiving duo of Eian Elsass and Ashton Dulin combined for 18 catches for 244 yards and a score in week one. Coming off a season-ending injury in 2016, Elsass didn't miss a beat his return. The sure-handed receiver set career-highs in receptions (11), yards (146), and caught a 60-yard pass, the longest of his career. Dulin's 67-yard touchdown reception was the second-longest of his career after catching an 82-yarder in his freshman debut in 2015. Pioneer slot receiver Dakota Hobbs, made a mark of his own in his first collegiate game, catching three passes for 69 yards, including a 49-yard reception that led to a Malone score, and carrying the ball once for nine yards.
 
Defense: The Pioneer front-four will be looking forward to facing a Shaw offensive line that allowed five sacks last week. Defensive ends Roy Johnson and Matt Ramsey and defensive tackles Drew Shreve and Albert Phillips have combined for three career sacks, but will try to add to that total on Saturday.
 
Shaw at a Glance
Shaw University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, competes in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Bears are led by second-year head coach Adrian Jones, who is 2-10 through his first 12 games. Shaw qualified for the NCAA DII Playoffs in 2010 and went 6-4 in 2013, but has since gone 6-26 over the last three-plus seasons.
 
Last weekend against North Carolina Central, an FCS institution that was ranked in the top-20 last season, the Bears were shutout 41-0 and averaged only 2.7 yards per play. A week earlier, Shaw suffered a season-opening 31-20 loss to New Haven (CT) in which they fared well defensively, holding their opponent to just 2.2 yards per carry.
 
Bears to Watch
Offense: Junior running back Michael Sherman, a junior college transfer, is slated to make his first start for the Bears on Saturday. Shaw's leading rusher Tevin Perry has lost a fumble in each of the first two games. He'll need to protect the football against a Malone defense that forced three fumbles in week one. Big-play threat Trevante Long finished with 121 receiving yards in the opener. He goes up a Malone secondary that has allowed a 100-yard receiver in three straight games.
 
Defense: Sophomore middle linebacker Devon Hunt anchors a talented but young Shaw defense that starts seven underclassmen. Hunt was named the CIAA Linebacker of the Week after collecting 10 tackles against NC Central. Defensive tackles Lewis Hart (6-6, 245) will line up over a Malone offensive line that features two freshman guards.
 
By the Numbers
1 - Win in two games played by Malone in Atlantic Coast states. The Pioneers beat Anna Maria (MA) in 2009, but lost to North Greenville (SC) in the 2006 NCCAA Victory Bowl.
4 - Career touchdowns scored by Jordan Johnson. He is tied for second among active DII players in non-offensive TDs and is the only player in all levels of the NCAA with 2 punt return TDs and 2 INT return TDs.
14.8 - Shaw's third-down conversion rate, the 6th-worst percentage in DII this season.
20 - Penalties committed by Shaw last week, the most by any team in the NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII or DIII) in a game this season. The Bears piled up 222 yards in penalties
107 - Offensive yards (32-yd run, 75-yd TD pass) negated by Malone penalties against Taylor in week one.

Looking Ahead
Malone will make its much anticipated return to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium next Saturday, September 23rd against Missouri S&T at 3:00pm.